Boozy Hot Wassail
A semi-traditional wassail recipe made with baked apples, hard cider, wine and brandy. See notes to make non-alcoholic!
Ingredients
- 4 small apples
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar or demerara sugar (55 grams)
- 1 medium orange
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1/2 cup water (125 ml)
- 1 quart hard cider (1 liter)
- 2 cups port or sweet madeira wine (500 ml)
- 1 cup brandy (250 ml)
- 1/2 lemon , halved
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Remove core of apples with a small knife or melon baller. Place in a 4-quart or larger dutch oven or other oven-proof pot. Fill the cavity of each apple with 1 tablespoon of brown or demerara sugar. Stud the orange with the whole cloves and place in the pot. Add the water.
- Bake until apples are tender but still maintain their shape, 35-45 minutes.
- Remove pot from the oven and place on the stove. Cut orange into quarters and return to the pot. Add hard cider, wine, brandy, lemon, cinnamon sticks, and whole allspice.
- Barely bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately or keep warm until ready to serve.
Notes
NOTES:
- If you'd rather not have spices floating in your beverage, wrap spices in cheesecloth and tie with string. Steep in the wassail as it heats to impart flavors, and remove before serving.
- To make in a slow cooker: Cook apples on high for 2-3 hours. Add remaining ingredients and cook on high until hot, 1-2 hours more.
- To make non-alcoholic: Use 6 cups apple cider and 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice in place of the hard cider, wine, and brandy.
- Feel free to save the baked apples for another use. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!
Nutrition
Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg